(1) Building Permits Required. No new construction or alterations to the exterior of buildings, including decks, patios, garages, carports, driveways, and paved (whether concrete or asphalt) parking spots may be made without first obtaining an approved building permit. Applications for building permits may be obtained from the city clerk’s office. A signed application for a building permit shall be returned to the city clerk’s office along with a required fee of $25.00 for each building permit requested. Building permits include all paving projects. The $25.00 permit fee is waived for all paving projects under 100 square feet in size. The building permit must be signed by the contractor or the property owner. The building permit shall not be considered approved until it has been signed by the city clerk, or the city clerk’s designee and either another clerk in the city office, the public works foreman or the public works foreman’s designee. The city clerk may, at his/her discretion, require approval from the planning and zoning chairman or the planning and zoning chairman’s designee.

(2) Criteria for Approval of a Building Permit. The city clerk and at least one other designated official as described in subsection (1) of this section will approve an application for a building permit if the proposed structure is in compliance with all applicable laws and code provisions, including zoning code provisions.

(3) Penalty for Failure to Obtain a Building Permit. Any construction in violation of this chapter is a municipal infraction and the contractor, persons doing construction at the site, and the property owner, upon notification by the city, shall immediately cease construction and immediately remove all such construction. Notification by the city may be by hand-delivery of a written notice, leaving a notice at the site, or mailing a letter to the last known address of the contractor, persons doing construction, or the property owner. Notification by hand-delivery or leaving a notice at the site shall be effective immediately. Notice by mail shall be effective three days after mailing. Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, including failure to obtain a building permit and failure to cease construction upon notification, is a municipal infraction subject to a penalty of $750.00. The contractor, each person doing construction, and the property owner are each liable for separate $500.00 penalties. Each day any infraction exists or continues is a separate violation subject to a separate $500.00 penalty.

(4) Fee for Late Permits. Any contractor, person doing the construction, and/or property owner that constructs, alters, or allows construction or alterations without the permit required by subsection (1) of this section must cease construction immediately, apply for a building permit, and pay a late building permit fee of $125.00. If the late permit fee is paid within two weeks of notification and a permit is obtained, construction may continue. The project must comply with all legal requirements, including zoning, to obtain the permit. Compliance with this subsection does not exempt a person from compliance with this section. A person or entity may be prosecuted for a violation of both subsection (3) of this section and this subsection. [Ord. 574 § 1, 2019; Ord. 540 § 1, 2013; Ord. 496 § 1, 2004; Code 1975 § 6-4.06.]